In the wake of the Volgograd terrorist attacks, Washington has offered ''closer cooperation'' with Russia on security for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. Russia says all measures required to make the Games safe have already been taken.

The latest offer of counterterrorism cooperation came from US
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, who spoke to his Russian
counterpart, Sergey Shoigu, in a phone conversation.

"Secretary Hagel also assured Minister Shoigu that the United
States stands ready to provide security assistance to Russia for
the Winter Olympics in Sochi, if requested," Pentagon
spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said.

"The leaders discussed the need to remain vigilant against
these threats and considered additional opportunities to deepen
our nations’ counterterrorism cooperation,” Kirby said.

Hagel's phone call came days after two bombings left 34 people
dead in the southern Russian city of Volgograd just before the
New Year. The bombings sparked doubts among some people over
Russia’s ability to protect athletes and spectators at the
Olympics, which are to kick off next month.

Every measure feasible taken

Following the tragic attacks, US had earlier offered ''liaison”
help during the Sochi Olympics. Washington has proposed that the
US effort be headed by the State Department's Bureau of
Diplomatic Security.

''The US government has offered our full support to the
Russian government in security preparations for the Sochi Olympic
Games,'' White House spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said in the
wake of the second bombing Monday. ''We would welcome the
opportunity for closer cooperation for the safety of the
athletes, spectators and other participants.''

But Moscow insisted that the terrorism threat does not require
any additional measures. The president of the Russian Olympic
Committee, Aleksandr Zhukov, said Monday that every possible
security measure is already in place in Sochi.

The measures he was referring to include surveillance drones,
which will be used to safeguard security at the Olympics for the
first time at Sochi. In addition, two sonar systems to detect
submarines and protect the Olympics from a sea-launched terror
attack will be used.

Conventional security forces will see more than 40,000 police on
duty, and more than 5,000 surveillance cameras installed across
the city will help the counterterrorism effort.

Russia’s stance was reiterated Saturday, when President Vladimir
Putin was in Sochi to inspect preparations for the Games. He
signed a decree that allows mass gatherings not directly related
to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the city. Previously they
would not be allowed in the city during the games, which gave
grounds for criticism of Russia, because the ban made impossible
political protests in Sochi.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) welcomed the
announcement, saying it was “in line with the promises that
President Putin gave us last year and is in accordance with the
plans of the Russian authorities, which guarantee freedom of
speech despite the high security during the Games.”

Terrorists target international resolve

International Olympic officials expressed their confidence in
Russia’s security measures for the Games. Following the Volgograd
attacks, IOC President Thomas Bach said he was sure that Russia
would produce a "safe and secure'' Olympics.

"I am certain that everything will be done to ensure the
security of the athletes and all the participants of the Olympic
Games," Bach said.

The Volgograd bombings, just a month before the launch of the
Games are unlikely to be coincidence, and are targeting the
resolve of future Sochi visitors, experts say.

"They are trying to hurt the image that Russia is a peaceful,
balanced and harmonious society... and show the world that there
is obviously a lack of control of the security situation,”
said the head of International Center for Counter-Terrorism,
Peter Knoope.

"One of the biggest challenges is how to maintain the wider
national security levels given the focus on Sochi," Andrew
Amery, who oversaw security at the 2012 Summer Olympics in
London, told AP. "This is an issue that is always realized
early in the planning and... the risk of course is at the
perimeter, as we saw in the recent tragic events."

The Sochi Olympics will be held from February 7-23 some 700
kilometers southwest of Volgograd, where the New Year bombings
happened.

The blasts come several months after a statement by Chechen
terrorist leader Doku Umarov, who called on Islamist militants in
Russia's North Caucasus to sabotage the Sochi Games.

He urged jihadist fighters to "do their utmost to
derail" the games, which he called "Satanic dances on
the bones of our ancestors."

"We have the obligation to use all means to prevent this," Umarov
said in a video posted on a rebel website.

But a Norwegian member of the International Olympic Committee
(IOC), who helped organize the 1994 Lillehammer Games, says that
security measures at the Games should be equal to the challenge.

"When we come to Sochi, it will be impossible for the
terrorists to do anything," said IOC’s Gerhard Heiberg.
"The [Olympic Village] will be sealed off from the outside
world. Security has been our priority No. 1 ever since Sochi got
the Games... For Russia, this is a matter of national
pride."